All roads lead to Millstreet for National Dairy Show

Dairy farmers are at a crossroads as the 2015 post-Quota era approaches fast. There is free advice available at the National Dairy Show this Saturday in the Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, Co Cork.

The Zoetis Budgeting and Financial Advice Clinic allows farmers to attend workshops and one to one sessions with industry leading advisers to help them with making profitable decisions going forward.

The format of this innovative event consists of short talks from experts in the fields of finance, animal health and dairy expansion. All speakers are then available for one to one sessions during the day. It is part of a packed programme for the growing annual dairy event in Millstreet.

The National Dairy Show is in its 31st year. The show is organised by a voluntary committee of active farmers with the interest of the dairy sector at their heart. Enniskeane dairy farmer, Seamus Crowley, takes the role of show director for the second time this year.

The show will be officially opened by MEP Mairead McGuiness at 1pm. The focus of the show is to provide a family day out for dairy farming families or anyone with a general interest in farming and animals.

The best Holstein Friesian and Jersey dairy cattle will be competing for national honours on the day. The highlight of the show ring will be the crowning of the 2013 Irish Examiner Supreme Champion. English judge, Mike Gould, will place the classes from 8.30am and an Irish showring record prize fund of €30,000 will be distributed on the day.

The trade stands in attendance this year have grown to record numbers. A highlight among the trade exhibitors is the National Dairy Innovation Award. This award will reward a new product or service, which has been launched in the past 12 months that revolutionised some aspect of dairy farming. The award has attracted major interest from a large number of companies who trade in this sector.

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As part of the family attractions will be a kids’ corner with bouncing castles and face painting, a food village with many local artisan producers and a special charity celebration. As this is the year of the Gathering, the committee have added new elements to the event to mark the event as the Irish Dairy Gathering. A special charity re-enactment of butter making and the old butter roads will help conclude the event.

The butter made on the day will be loaded into a horse and cart in the main arena and a food and drink celebration will be served as the load heads off on the old butter road that ran through Millstreet towards the Butter Museum in Cork City. The arrival of the horse and cart with the butter will be celebrated on Sunday at the Butter Museum. Charity proceeds go to Enable Ireland.

As the Irish Dairy Gathering, this Saturday’s event will be attended by many overseas visitors from UK and mainland Europe as a recognised event in the international show calendar. It will promote and celebrate the Irish dairy industry and Irish cows.

The third ever National RC Model Tractor and Trailer Reversing Championship will be held at the show. The competition will test the driving skills of the young enthusiasts at the art of reversing radio control 1:32 scale tractors. On the day there will be competitions for under 10s, under 13s and under 16s. The competition sponsors Mad for Models and Collectors Toys, Innishannon will be in attendance as well as many farm model displays.

This indoor event has grown and entertained families for the past 30 years. This year’s show will be bigger and better than ever. The fun starts early on Saturday morning.